Portage Home Visitor

As a Portage Home Visitor, you will work closely with parents and children with special educational needs and disability (SEND) in their own home on a one-to-one basis. You will build confidence and empower parents to enable them to understand and meet their child's needs as they grow and develop.
This is a limited term contact until 1 November 2026.
What will you be doing?

• As an experienced Portage Home Visitor, you will be adhering to and promoting the principles of The National Portage Association (NPA) through working with children and families across the local authority.


• In partnership with parents, you will carry out an assessment of developmental needs to prepare and carry out a programme of activities to be practised by the child with parent/carer based on agreed long term goals.


• On a regular basis you will visit families to monitor development and prepare follow up activities according to progress.


• You will work with parents/carers through 1:1 support, to develop play, communication and relationships, empowering parents to take lead role in the partnership (following National Portage Association guidelines).


• You will be part of the day to day organisation and management of Portage referrals, this will include updating IT systems, liaising with parents and referrers, data collection, prioritising and organising your own case load.


• You will take part in the running and planning of the Portage parent play and stay group.
  
  You will have a relevant qualification such as NVQ Level 3 in Education, health or social care, NNEB, BTEC or equivalent.


• You will be up to date with Local Support and National groups and including National Portage Association guidelines.


• It is essential you have experience of working with a range of early years children with SEND including social and communication, sensory, physical difficulties and global developmental delay.


• You will have knowledge of augmentative communication systems such as Makaton and the use of visual support.


• You must have a good working knowledge of the Code of Practice and related processes.


• You will be able to write clearly with experience of writing reports and person- centred plans.


• You will be expected to work with a range of professionals across both the early years sector and health professionals to support the children with whom you are working and contribute to the development of working practices across the sector. This will include attendance at meetings and joint visits with other professionals as appropriate.


• You will also be required a full driving licence and access to their own car during the working day.


• Although not essential, you may have attended a Portage workshop and worked in partnership with parents in their own home.


Please note that due to the nature of this role it is a requirement of employment that an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is obtained for this post.

How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different

We know our team work best when they have balance in their lives and we offer genuine flexibility to help them achieve that work/life balance.
We value our staff as individuals, investing in their careers and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps make the greatest long-term difference in work.
We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Ensuring all our staff are given right skills, knowledge and support to recognise and respond effectively to potential abuse or neglect.
Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.

• We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of.


• We're working with the most vulnerable in our community to help them achieve what they want in life.


• We're investing in our schools to ensure every child and young person in South Gloucestershire achieves their full potential.


We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.
We're making a difference, be part of it!